Grants

The Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign collaborates with other entities within and outside the university to administer translational grant programs that benefit Stanford's rich community of innovators and researchers. These competitive award programs take full advantage of the funding, resources, and expertise uniquely available in the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Over many years, we have developed an exceptional track record in enabling selected projects to “translate” from the university into commercial development.

Each program provides seed funding. In some cases, the funding is the first support for the project. In other instances, these funds help bridge the gap between initial research funding and commercial investments or licenses. Importantly, all recipients also receive intensive, hands-on mentorship and practical guidance to more efficiently and effectively advance their technologies toward patient care.

Learn more about these programs and how they help empower our trainees.

Spectrum HealthTech Grants

Biodesign contact: Linda Lucian
Project types: Projects that advance translational science by developing platform technologies, novel diagnostics, or streamlined product development methods to improve healthcare solutions. Also included are studies on policies and regulatory frameworks that impact the efficiency and scalability of the translational process. Please review CTS Pilot Grants RFA for additional details on eligible projects.
Funding opportunity: Up to $50,000 (current round for 10 month funding timeframe)
Application due: April 15, 2025 (CTS application details)
Funding Timeframe: September 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026

Stanford Biodesign administers health technology grants within the NIH-funded Spectrum program. These grants support projects that improve the effectiveness, reproducibility, and real-world implementation of translational research, as well as investigations into policies and frameworks that influence innovation. Stanford faculty with PI eligibility and Clinical Educator faculty with an approved PI waiver are encouraged to apply. Teams may include students, postdocs, and visiting scientists. Intellectual property must be owned by Stanford and managed through the Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) as appropriate.

Stanford-Coulter Translational Research Grants

Biodesign contact: Linda Lucian
Project types: Translational research involving devices, diagnostics, and therapeutics
Funding opportunity: Up to $125,000 for one year
Application due: February 24, 2025

Funded by the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation and managed by the Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign in partnership with Stanford Bioengineering, the Coulter program supports multidisciplinary teams of biomedical engineers and clinical scientists performing translational research on unmet healthcare needs. Teams must include both a principle investigator from a clinical department in the Stanford University School of Medicine and from the Bioengineering department.

For each project, the intellectual property of the core technology must be owned by Stanford (not under an option or license to any entity). Inventors can work with the Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) to take this IP out of the university if/when appropriate. 

Neuroscience: Translate Grants 

Biodesign contact: Linda Lucian
Project types: Translational research involving devices, diagnostic procedures, software, and pharmaceutical therapies
Funding opportunity: Up to $120,000 for one year
Application due: November 11, 2024

Created by the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford and managed by Stanford Biodesign, the Neuroscience: Translate grant program uses the Coulter Program blueprint to encourage teams of researchers to address unmet needs in any area of neuroscience or brain health. The program provides both funding and mentorship. Teams must include at least two co-principal investigators from different fields, both of whom must be members or faculty affiliates of the Wu Tsai Institute. At least one faculty member must be a clinician.

For each project, the intellectual property of the core technology must be owned by Stanford (not under an option or license to any entity). Inventors can work with the Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) to take this IP out of the university if/when appropriate. 

UCSF-Stanford Pediatric Device Accelerator 

Biodesign contact: James Wall
Project types: Promising pediatric device ideas/projects led by innovators willing to work with the UCSF-Stanford Pediatric Device Consortium (PDC) to develop the idea into a marketable project; devices must meet the FDA definition of a medical device and be intended for use in the pediatric population (birth to 21)
Funding opportunity: up to $100,000 per project

The UCSF-Stanford PDC was founded in 2018 to improve the health, safety, and quality of life of pediatric patients by accelerating the development and availability of technologies developed specifically for kids. Funded by the US Food and Drug Administration, the UCSF-Stanford Pediatric Device Accelerator provides funding, customized product development and commercialization advising, and other support from experienced innovators and industry leaders to help drive promising pediatric device ideas towards market availability. In addition to funding, the award involves mentoring, advising, and subsequent tracking of project progress, including regular progress and spending updates. The program is restricted to US-based applicants.

Biodesign Summer Extension Award

Biodesign contact: Linda Lucian
Project types: Further development of health technology projects originated in the fellowship or innovation course

Each May, the Stanford Biodesign Innovation Fellows and students from the graduate-level Biodesign Innovation course may apply for grants to pursue their projects through the summer. Recipients use this time, funding, and the resources available through Stanford Biodesign to further de-risk their technologies, develop business plans, and line up additional funding to take their projects to the next level. 

For each project, the intellectual property of the core technology must be owned by Stanford (not under an option or license to any entity). Inventors can work with the Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) to take this IP out of the university if/when appropriate. (Note that Stanford OTL policies may be different for undergraduate students.)

Biodesign NEXT Award

Biodesign contact: Linda Lucian
Project types: Further development of health technology projects originated in select Biodesign courses
Funding opportunity: additional $1,000 for a second quarter upon successful completion of initial aims

Students in a subset of other Stanford Biodesign courses may apply for 1 or 2 quarters of support through the Biodesign NEXT extension funding program. In addition to providing high-performing teams with resources and funding to advance their technologies, this extended learning program helps prepare aspiring innovators for careers in health technology innovation through a learn-by-doing experience.   

For each project, the intellectual property of the core technology must be owned by Stanford (not under an option or license to any entity). Inventors can work with the Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) to take this IP out of the university if/when appropriate. (Note that Stanford OTL policies may be different for undergraduate students.)

Biodesign Faculty Fellowship Extension Award

Biodesign contact: Linda Lucian
Project types: Further development of health technology projects originated in the Biodesign Faculty Fellowship program
Funding opportunity: $10,000 of funding for June 15 - November 30

Each May, the Biodesign Faculty Fellows compete for two extension awards. The awards include both seed funding and mentor support with the goal of improving the translational prospects of the selected projects. During the extension period, recipients work to develop further proof-of-concept and de-risk their technology in order to strengthen their position when they apply for additional grant funding.

Loka Innovators Award

A big healthcare idea needs a prototype. Build yours with help from an award-winning design and GenAI company. Loka selects a current Stanford team or individual working on a digital health project to receive complimentary design and engineering services to help advance the project toward patient care. Learn more about the Loka Innovators Award here.